“Not too good.”
“We’ll have to work on that. When do you think you can get me the information about the guns?” Sienna hated to push when Kate was overwhelmed, but she needed that information as soon as possible.
“Tomorrow morning?”
“I have court in the morning, dammit. Just put it on my desk as soon as you can.”
“And I expect a full accounting of what’s going on with you when I see you. I’ve got to get going or I’ll be late for work. Be careful with this case and with that Navy SEAL.”
“I will.”
Sienna dropped the receiver into the cradle. Too late. Careful had gone out the window a long time ago. She was heading straight into a whirling storm of emotion and heartache and couldn’t seem to help herself or slow her crazy descent.
“What’s the ETA on the gun info?”
“The FBI has the request and they said they would rush it,” Sienna said.
“When did she think they’d have the data?” he asked, sitting down next to her, the scent of him heady first thing in the morning.
“She thinks tomorrow.”
He scowled, reaching out and casually running his warm, callused palm along her leg as if it was the most natural thing to do. “I was hoping for some answers sooner than that.”
“So was I.”
“What’s the agenda for today?”
“We still have the truck we can track. I also want to find out what’s holding up the M-4 serial number and the identification of the prints that were found in the truck.”
“You don’t give an inch, do you?” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“No,” she replied, staring at him. “So, do you need to go home and change?”
“No, I always keep my duffel in the trunk of my car, then I’m always ready at a moment’s notice.”
“To leave.” A cold feeling started in the pit of her stomach and branched out like killing frost. The silence stretched and Sienna looked away. It really wasn’t her place to say anything to him about his lifestyle. He wasn’t her man, just a temporary lover. Sienna fought for equilibrium. “You’d better hightail it down there and get your stuff. I’ll make some breakfast. I think I still might have some eggs in the back of the fridge.”
He nodded, got up, and grabbed his keys. He put on his shoes and quietly slipped out of her apartment door.
After the impromptu visit from her mother, A.J.’s words from last night came back to her. How did her family fit into her life? It wasn’t until he’d voiced those words that she began to think about all the times that she had canceled because of her job. She shrugged off the unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had made an effort to fit her family in her life. A.J. barely knew her, she tried to tell herself, but a little voice jeered at her that maybe he knew her better than she knew herself.
She walked over to her purse and dug around inside. She found the receipt for the dress she’d purchased at Caroline’s Bridal Shop. Walking back into the kitchen, she picked up her phone and dialed. It took her less than a minute to make another fitting appointment. See, she knew how to fit her family into her life. It wasn’t difficult.
After that, she dialed her sister’s work number.
“Hello.”
“Michelle, it’s Sienna.”
“Oh, hi.”
“You still mad?”
“I’m working myself down to disgruntled.”
Sienna smiled. “You never could stay mad at me for very long.”
“No, I couldn’t. Did you make another appointment?”